Kemas kini terkini kepada aplikasi Waze oleh Google bertujuan untuk memberikan pengguna wawasan yang lebih baik mengenai keadaan jalan sebenar, termasuk halangan pemandu laju dan selekoh tajam, bagi memastikan perjalanan yang lebih lancar dan bebas saman.
Salah satu perubahan utama adalah pengenalan pemberitahuan tentang halangan pemandu laju dan selekoh tajam, pada mulanya hanya tersedia pada iPhone dan dijangka akan dilancarkan ke peranti Android dalam beberapa minggu akan datang. Pengguna mungkin telah menerima pemberitahuan tentang ciri-ciri baru ini apabila melancarkan aplikasi.
Kemas kini ini disertai dengan menu pelaporan yang telah diubahsuai, dengan ikon bahaya baru yang memudahkan pengguna untuk menyumbangkan data secara langsung dengan lebih mudah. Proses yang dipermudahkan ini bertujuan untuk menjadikan pelaporan keadaan jalan lebih intuitif dan cekap.
The latest updates to Google’s Waze app are aimed at providing users with better real-time insights about road conditions, including speed bumps and sharp curves, to ensure smoother and ticket-free commutes.
One of the key changes is the introduction of speed bump and sharp curve alerts, initially available on iPhones and expected to roll out to Android devices in the coming weeks. Users may have already received notifications about these new features upon launching the app.
These updates come with a redesigned reporting menu, featuring a new hazard icon that prompts users to contribute real-time data more effortlessly. This streamlined process aims to make reporting road conditions more intuitive and efficient.
Within the reporting menu, users can now easily report various road conditions such as traffic, crashes, police activity (including speed traps), bad weather, blocked lanes, road closures, and more. They can also report gas prices or request roadside assistance from fellow travellers.
Many motorists today use GPS route guidance systems like Waze and Google Maps to not only find their way around but also have an idea of the traffic conditions (as well as where they might be stopped for ‘interviews’). The two apps are readily available on smartphones and it also possible to mirror them on the infotainment system in many new cars.
But the apps still remain as part of the smartphone and either you refer to it while you drive or you see it on the dashboard display. Generally, it’s good enough but Volvo has gone one step further by making it possible to install Waze as part of the car’s infotainment system. The app has been added to their in-car library and can be downloaded from today.
The Malaysian police (PDRM) have asked the public not to share information on their operations relating to roadblocks to check motorists and vehicles. Such information is contributed by users of the Waze GPS route navigation app and alerts motorists to the presence of such operations on the road ahead of them.
Speaking at an event in Kuala Lumpur last night, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said such information will hamper enforcement efforts against motorists driving under the influence of alcohol (drunk drivers) and those who commit other traffic offences. When alerted, motorists who are aware that they can be caught for an offence may then avoid the roadblock.
Datuk Azmi is asking the public to cooperate with the police on this and not provide information that helps those who commit road offences. He said road-users should be aware of the dangers they face due to negligence from drunk drivers, those not stopping at red lights, driving against the flow of traffic and so on.
Although Malaysia has a railway system network that is pretty old (the first line was built in 1885), most of the places where the lines crossroads usually have barriers. This is unlike Japan or America, with a more extensive network where railway lines crossroads in many places and have no barriers. It is obvious that such crossings require motorists to be alert, especially those without barriers.
While Malaysian motorists may not have to worry so much about railway crossings as there are barriers which come down when a train is about to cross, it is still good to be aware of them when driving, especially in an unfamiliar area. It may seem obvious when a train is approaching but there will still be some people who somehow don’t notice and put themselves at great risk if there is no barrier.
Driver alerted near railway crossing
To make things safer, Waze has marked all the railway crossings in the country, as it does for many other countries. Besides the location being identified, there is now also an alert as the vehicle approaches the railway crossing. A banner will appear on the Waze app highlighting the crossing and advising the driver to approach with caution.
“The Railroad Crossing feature is a result of a cross-industry, cross-sector collaboration, both internally within Waze and the community, working together to help fellow drivers map out all highway-railroad intersections,” said Dani Simons, Head of Public Sector Partnerships, Waze. “This feature exemplifies Waze’s commitment to building for its Driving app, being the first to implement features and emphasizes our focus on safety.”
Other benefits of using Waze
For those who have not used Waze yet, it is an app which is very useful for motorists – even those who drive within their own town or city and believe they are familiar with all the roads. Besides the route guidance to a specified destination, the route that is suggested is usually the fastest one. It is based on real-time traffic conditions along the way. Sometimes, the route may take you through what seems like a less direct route but actually, it is guiding you to avoid an area where there is congestion.
Another feature which motorists will find useful is the notification of accidents ahead. These obviously are events which cannot be embedded as data since they occur randomly. So Waze invites people to send a notification that is then recorded and made known to everyone else. This alerts the driver to possible congestion ahead (people slowing down to look at the numberplate!) or even the presence of a disable vehicle in a lane that can be a dangerous obstruction.
Speed limits are also indicated so you are aware and don’t exceed them. Motorists will also notify Waze of police roadblocks or ‘other activity’ so that they can expect to slow down as vehicles queue up.
Waze is free for download to mobilephones or other devices that run on Apple’s iOS or Android systems. With more and more new vehicles coming with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for connectivity, the Waze app can also be mirrored on the dashboard display and accessed from there. This means that maps are always up to date, unlike the early on-board navigation systems where a new digital map (often costing money) would be needed periodically if you wanted updated information.
Like Google Maps, you can also have it on your desktop or laptop computer. From your desk, you can ‘recce’ an area you are going to so you are familiar with the turnings. The current traffic conditions are also shown, so you can decide what route to take to avoid jams.
How would you like Dato’ Yasmin Yusuff to be your co-driver – everytime you drive your car? That’s now possible if you have Waze, the popular GPS route guidance app on smartphones. In fact, Yasmin has been ‘available’ for some time now if Waze users went to the app’s voice options section. There is an option ‘Bahasa Malaysia – Yasmin’ which sets the voice to be that of the multi-talented entertainment personality.
Malaysian flavour to guidance
Yasmin’s voice is one of the only two options available for voice navigation in Bahasa Malaysia, the other being ‘Shahdan’, a male voice. Once ‘Yasmin’ is chosen as the ‘voice’ of the app, you will get turn-by-turn navigation directions as well as safety tips (like a reminder to strap on your seatbelt or slow down at the sign of the red lights). And what’s even nicer is that some of the advisories are very Malaysian in flavour. Like ‘alamak, miss!’ when you’ve missed an exit you should have taken, or ‘lubang lagi’, a relatable grouse for when a pothole is ahead.
“As I happen to be a professional voice-over artist, and also the original voice of the LRT, I thought it would be fun to do Waze too! All it took was for me to offer my voice in the Waze Malaysia Facebook group, and before I knew it, I was contacted, did an audition tape, and voila – I’m the Bahasa voice of Waze!” Yasmin said.
Like many Malaysians, Yasmin is also irritated by the pronunciation of our street names by Waze and perhaps she will also do them for the app later on. “I only did turn-by-turn instructions this time, but maybe one day I can do the street names too,” she added.
The former Miss Universe Malaysia is no stranger to voice-overs throughout her illustrious career in entertainment, which also includes being a radio presenter for Radio 4, crooning several songs in the late 70s to early 80s, acting in TV dramas and movies, talent managing, and producing several musicals to name a few. Her richly sweet yet authoritative voice could be heard over dozens of radio and TV ads over the years, and now motorists get to hear her voice again on their journeys.
Record your own Waze voice!
Prefer the sound of your own voice? Waze can do that too! Just go to the Menu and Settings and select Voice & Sound. Tap Waze voice and then tap Record new voice. You can select the type of direction you’d like to record and when finished, you can give the voice a name.
Safety first
Waze reminds motorists to use the app as it is intended when driving. It should be placed in a dock or on the dashboard and the hands-free functionality should be used. If you hold the smartphone in your hand while driving, you will be committing an offence.
It seems that during the ‘downtime’ when movements were restricted in Malaysia and many other countries, the people at Waze spent the time updating and improving the popular app. Now that people are back on the roads motoring and commuting, they have a new version with a refreshed brand identity and new features.
According to Waze, the latest brand refresh ‘reinforces inclusivity and connection into every journey on the road, empowering each user to share how they are feeling with the Waze community’.
Waze was founded on the simple idea that by working together, the community could help make motoring better. When a Wazer hits a pothole and reports it, or when one of Waze’s volunteer Map Editors adds toll prices to the map, the shared community of drivers all benefit – encouraging more people to participate and help make the road a less lonely place.
For example, in Malaysia, the community of Map Editor volunteers is helping to collect and input toll price information on Waze – enabling users to view and compare the prices while driving along tolled routes.
Moods feature evolved
The Moods feature has been evolved, providing more clarity and hilarity than ever. Whether it’s Happy, Wild , Zombified, or anything in-between, there’s a Mood for everyone to express how they feel in traffic, in all the different moments on their journey, and make people smile, even when there might not be much to smile about. The evolved feature is said to enable better self-expression.
Beyond Moods, a new bold colour palette reflects the joy and uniqueness of users, with a new visual language based on roads and maps. This will be seen in multiple places, including the Waze website, emails, and social channels.
Enhanced graphics
‘Block by block’ is a graphic system inspired by maps and city streets. It uses an assortment of simple, geometric shapes to provide bold, branded graphics, divide compositions, and organize information. And much like Waze itself, it does all of that while creating some playful pit-stops along the way.
“Waze is home to the world’s largest community of drivers, and we’ve always used the power of our people to transform the road into a happier, more humane place,” said Jake Shaw, Waze Head of Creative. “This brand refresh encapsulates that unique Waze experience visually, with a new grid format based on our map, new Moods to capture the infinite array of emotions we all feel while driving and a lively colour palette that celebrates the joy that we always try to bring to the road, and the magic of our community and the way we work together for better.”
“As a crowdsourced app, Waze is incredibly vibrant and dynamic,“ added Kelvin Sim, Country Lead of Waze Malaysia “We wanted to build a strong, flexible visual identity that would support the brand and its users while allowing them to authentically express themselves and have fun. Waze is about working together to make the smoothest drive possible, but also observing and sharing the world around you.”
Remember the recent case of the motorist driving along the motorcycle lane by the side of the highway? The police managed to identify the owner of the Volvo XC90 and after investigation, they said that he explained that his Waze GPS route navigation service was set on MOTORCYCLE mode. As a result, the route which he had wanted included travelling along a motorcycle lane next to the highway.
Some people were skeptical about this excuse and suggested that GPS is not so accurate that it can separate the motorcycle lane from the highway that a different route can be shown. They felt he gave a lame excuse.
We tested his explanation by asking Waze to provide a route from one location to another, first in PRIVATE CAR mode and then in MOTORCYCLE MODE. For most of the route, the route used the same road as cars but in areas where the was a motorcycle lane – eg alongside the federal Highway in Petaling Jaya, Selangor – the route for MOTORCYCLE mode went along the motorcycle lane. This was clearly indicated on the map with the two sides of the highway shown and the route going along another road just next to it.
Of course, any motorist should have realized he or she was on a motorcycle lane (and with that SUV he was driving, he could have just crossed over to the right and onto the highway) but it could be that the driver did not drive much and was not familiar with the roads. Or the phone he was using was his son’s who is a Grab rider. That is no excuse, of course, as there would be signs to indicate the motorcycle lane and motorists should be aware.
There have been similar cases in the past of motorists driving along the motorcycle lanes. These have been known to be deliberate and either the drivers were doing it ‘for fun’ or they were trying to jump queue to get ahead of a jam. Not nice for motorcyclists, not to mention a danger to them too.
As for the GPS system, this shows how accurate it is these days. Back in the 1990s, when the US allowed civilian devices to receive GPS signals from its satellites, it was not as accurate for the civilian devices compared to those used by the military. The US deliberately made the signal less accurate with ‘Selective Availability’ to prevent civilian devices from being used for targeting weapons.
‘Selective Availability’ was stopped by President Clinton in May 2000 and at that time, it was still 5 metres accuracy. This meant that if two points were less than 5 metres apart, the separation could not be shown. Over time, the accuracy improved and since 2018, accuracy is said to be possible to 30 cm. That means you can show individual lanes on the road whereas 20 years ago, you could only show the whole width of the highway.
The accuracy will be very important when autonomous vehicles start to be used widely. Their on-board navigation systems will need to be able to pinpoint junctions and other turning points very accurately to avoid accidents.
Anyway, back to the case of the motorist who was on the motorcycle lane. It is best to not completely rely on Waze or other GPS navigation as you drive. There are funny incidents of people who somehow trusted their route guidance so much that they ended up on a river! Use your common sense and pay attention to signs.
With many countries having lockdowns or restricted movements, traffic levels have dropped as people travel less. Waze data shows that across the world, Waze users are driving 60% fewer kilometres compared to the February daily average for a 2-week period (February 11 – 25 2020).
In Malaysia, which has had a country-wide Movement Control Order (MCO) since March 18, Waze users are driving significantly less (80% fewer kilometres), compared to the same February daily average.
Despite the overall decrease in the number of people on the road, there are still essential journeys that need to be made every day, such as purchasing necessities, seeking medical care, or to perform official duties for those under essential services.
Understanding that there are places, eg Malaysia, where the authorities are using various measures such as roadblocks to ensure compliance with the regulations, Waze Map Editors and the Waze Crisis Response team are currently working with 58 countries (and counting) to add region-specific relief efforts including road closures, red zones, and more, to the map.
This crisis response will help those who have the travel for legitimate purposes to get to their destinations promptly and home again safely.
Waze has also launched a COVID-19 Landing Page asking governments around the world to contribute data on medical testing centre and emergency food distribution centre locations to help improve its maps for users. Once the data is received, Waze will validate and add the details to the map, and then inform drivers accordingly.
Another initiative that Waze has quickly rolled out is support for drive-throughs and curbside pick-up to help provide users with minimal contact access. This will help compliance with social distancing guidelines. With new Location Personalities badges and search features, businesses which need to update their information can do so in a few simple steps or contact Waze’s support team for help.
For more information about Waze and its community as well as partners’ COVID-19 relief efforts, click here.
Waze, the popular GPS guidance app, has announced a new initiative at Kuala Lumpur’s Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) which will help drivers find their way around the 70-acre site. The initiative sees the installation Bluetooth-enabled hardware devices – called Waze Beacons – across TRX’s basement roads leading to carparks in the development which will have 30 buildings.
The collaboration between Waze and TRX City Sdn Bhd is the first program of its type in Southeast Asia. It will make use of Bluetooth connectivity underground and provide seamless navigation to drivers where there is limited or no GPS signal reception. This will help ensure better location services, increased driver safety, and better visibility of real-time traffic events while driving underground in TRX.
“We are thrilled to partner with Waze, to be the first in Southeast Asia to put Waze Beacons to the test. Our underground roads are an ideal test ground as they lead out to key exits, and we look forward to enhancing TRX’s level of services. Ensuring seamless connectivity is critical to support TRX’s status as an international financial hub.” said Dato’ Azmar Talib, CEO of TRX City.
“The Waze Beacons Program will help realise the TRX masterplan of making the district the best-connected address in Kuala Lumpur. The development will have direct access to major highways such as the SMART Tunnel, Maju Expressway (MEX) and the future Setiawangsa-Pantai Expressway (SPE), as well as connections to Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail via many ingress and egress points,” Dato’ Azmar added.
The Waze Beacons, installed and owned by TRX City, do not collect data and work by emitting a signal that can aid navigation apps (not only Waze), making it easier for drivers to navigate underground areas with multiple exits and roundabouts during periods of poor connection, and prevent traffic confusion and congestion. The signals are available for use by all developers looking to make it easier and safer to get around TRX. These installations will also serve as a pilot-scale project for other parts of Kuala Lumpur.
Waze’s collaboration with TRX has seen these devices installed across TRX’s Basements 2 and 3 which have up to 3 and 21 decision points, respectively, leading out to parking spaces, and various connecting roads and highways.
Waze Beacons was launched in 2016 and has successfully been introduced in the USA, Brazil, France, Italy, Australia, Norway, and Czech Republic. In total, they are found in roughly 260 kms of tunnels and roadways worldwide.
“The Waze team and I are pleased to bring the Waze Beacons Program to Malaysia, the first Southeast Asian country to adopt the technology,” said Gil Disatnik, Head of the Waze Beacons Program. “Seamless navigation can be enjoyed in TRX when its underground roads are open to the public, but this is just the beginning and we hope to expand into more areas nationwide across Malaysia soon. No matter the navigation apps used, Waze Beacons technology is open and free to use, and we ultimately hope to empower road users to outsmart traffic together.”